Polish poetry and literature celebrated at special event

AROUND 40 people gathered in Gorey Library recently to help celebrate Polish Independence Day.

The members of Gorey.pl Polish Cultural Association organised a series of activities for the evening to celebrate various aspects of Polish culture. They thanked the Polish Embassy for sponsoring prizes for the Polish poetry recital competition, and the Polish+Freedom art competition.

Thanks also went to Gorey Municipal District for raising the Polish flag in Gorey Civic Square on November 11, Polish Independence Day. Poland marks its centenary year of independence next year.

The evening saw those present celebrate some of Poland’s most celebrated literature. The poetry competition involved both Irish and Polish participants reciting a selected poem by a noted Polish poet. The jury, which included Adana Keane, Ewa Minias and Carla King decided that Christian O’Morchoe’s interpretation of C.K. Norwid’s ‘My Country’ was the most impressive and awarded her with first price. Susan Edwards was second and Kacper Barow was third.

The art competition was won by Millie Lawton (11), while Jakub Bak (9) from Cork was second. Third prize was awarded to Hanna Koronkiewicz (6). Honourable mentions went to Seamie MacCafferty, Eire Fhaolain and Natan Gorajski.

The evening also included exhibitions on Polish author Józef Konrad Korzeniowski, better known as Joseph Conrad, and on Polish National Independence Day.

Maciet Neumann of the Gorey.pl Polish Cultural Association, with Roisin and Seamie MacCafferty and their mother, Nicola MacCafferty.

Ola Riquet with Polish poetry reciting competition contestants Susan Edwards, Kacper Barow and Christian O’Morchoe.

Eire Ni Fhaolain, Hanna Koronkiewicz and Millie Lawton, who all took part in the colouring competition.